Tuesday, June 30, 2009

We are ending June on a less than pleasant note. The litany of personal and public tragedies that we have endured at the half year mark of 2009 has left many of us just plain exhausted I’m sure.

We are all grappling with major drama and; God forbid - if we turn on the news, we are inundated with more information that our brains should be allowed to digest.

I had a lengthy conversation over the weekend with one of my mentors who is also my Soror and Sister Link. We chatted about the changing times and how to best position (or reposition) ourselves intellectually, spiritually, and emotionally.

What that means for me is buckling down a bit more at the proverbial 9 to 5 while taking time to do enjoyable activities I tend to put off in an attempt to squeeze one more social event on my calendar.

I believe summer is always a good time for rejuvenation and reflection. And, that is number #1 on my agenda.

Many of our social, civic, and professional organizations are on recess, so I encourage you to spend the next sixty days focusing on quality time with your loved ones. We are rocketing through this new century with such rapidity that we will be burned out in the next twenty years if we're not careful.

In order to positively proceed, sometimes we have to hit “cruise control” rather than keeping our feet firmly planned on the gas pedal.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

While I honor the memory of the legendary Michael Jackson today, I reflect on the fact that some of the best times of my life were lived through the soundtrack of his music and the music of the Jackson 5.

As a fan and a human being, there were times when Michael Jackson really ticked me off too. My perceived relationship with him was complex, complicated, exciting, and downright hard at times.

So, what could I say today of all days when I am rendered wordless?

I'll borrow a paraphrased quote from CNN's Larry King that I hope will encourage you as it encouraged me.

Let's remember Michael Jackson for his talent because truthfully, that's all we really knew about him. Everything else we thought we knew about him was many times filtered through a sensational media and was often times speculation.

Please consider joining me in prayer for his children, siblings, and parents.

And, let's remember the time that we fell in love with this giant of a performer whose musical contributions are immeasurable.

Friday, June 19, 2009

Super Socialite Prudence Inzerillo is joined by Cynthia Lufkin at the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Gala held in New York's Central Park Zoo last week. More than 600 guests attended the evening which raised $1.8 million dollars. Ms. Inzerillo looks smashing (as always!)

Thursday, June 18, 2009

I cannot stress enough how crucial it is to have positive representation of Black people in the media. It’s one of the main reasons why I stay so dedicated to blogging. I know from your emails and notes in Facebook that many of you crave images of Black people doing well and looking great.

I also know that several of us would love to wrap ourselves in the cloistered existence of a so-called post-racial America - especially given the election of President Obama. However, the unfortunate truth is that recent media analysis indicates one of two things happens when it comes to the media’s portrayal of Black people. We are either dogged by persistent negative stereotypes or we are completely absent.

This is why it is so important that we ensure the financial viability and success of Ebony Magazine and Jet Magazineduring these difficult times. These two publications are the windows into a world where the rich spectrum of Black people is celebrated. These magazines are as relevant today as they were when the late John H. Johnson started them in 1945 and 1951 respectively.

Please consider subscribing to one or both of these publications. The next page of our story needs to be filled with culturally relevant content from the company that cared about us first.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

The Girl Scout Council of Greater New York recently held their 34thAnnual “Celebrating Brownie Points – A Tribute to Leadership” dinner by honoring seven women for their community service including Deirdre Stanley, Executive Vice President and General Counsel for Thomson Reuters. Ms. Stanley (photographed left) has been a speaker at the Aspen Ideas Festival and is a member of the Abyssinian Development Corporation.Ifeoma Okoronkwo Aitkenhead and Dominique Saint-Louis (right) are also featured in this photo.

Ms. Stanley has been a speaker at the Aspen Ideas Festival and is a member of the Abyssinian Development Corporation.